Understanding the total value of annual compensation statements is important for both employers and employees. Paychecks reflect only part of the compensation; the statement shows the full range of benefits and rewards provided by the employer.

In labor-intensive environments like farms and other agricultural operations, conflict between employees can happen. Conflict is friction—disagreement between two or more people. Our brains often perceive conflict as a threat, which makes it uncomfortable and leads many people to avoid it.

Labor shortages are widespread, workers are expecting higher starting wages, and after farms hire and train a new employee, there is a risk that they will jump ship for a better-paying job. Improve the retention odds on your farm by putting a plan in place to improve the employee onboarding experience.  

English | Spanish Cómo medir su cultura empresarial en la granja ¿Por qué utilizar una encuesta para empleados para medir la cultura? Las prácticas laborales sólidas orientadas a atraer, capacitar, retener y recompensar a los empleados deben reflejar una comprensión clara de las opiniones y experiencias de los empleados. La cultura agrícola representa “la forma en […]

The place we are born can impact our culture—our behavior and how we view the world. People who come from different countries have different cultures; the more we interact with people from different countries the more we learn about our cultural differences and similarities. Understanding and valuing cultural differences is important to improving farm business culture.

Sound employment practices geared toward attracting, training, retaining, and rewarding employees must reflect a clear understanding of employee views and experiences. The farm culture represents “the way things get done around here,” and it can be positive or present a challenge for employees. The culture on a farm may not be obvious or visible, but it is there.

Culture—whether of an individual or an organization—is an important but often challenging concept to grasp. Farm business culture relates to the values, goals, beliefs, and way things are done on the farm – communication, how work is accomplished, how achievements are celebrated.

Many employers think people are motivated to work for reasons of pay.  Research on self-determination theory and work motivation tells us that humans are motivated not simply by material possession, but also by enjoyment and meaning that our actions bring us.

Like any business, farms depend on good employees for things to run smoothly. When you have a vacancy on your team, structure your interviews so that you can hire the best available employee. Make sure you prepare for interviews in advance, and allow yourself enough time to consider each individual carefully.

Job descriptions add clarity to farm tasks and procedures, helping to avoid confusion and potential disagreements about the work at hand, and delineating who is responsible for those tasks. This can also improve working relationships and keep things running smoothly for all employees, including family members working on the farm.